Webster Special 2 Litres

[henk4]

Marvin Webster was a engineer in marine electronics, who entered sportscar racing as a constructor via the efforts of his son who was the quarter midget national champion in 1958. In his efforts to strive further junior left the midgets behind and entered the lower sportscar scene and bought a couple of Lotus FJs and a Lotus 23. Not satisfied with the performance of those cars Websters made some significant improvement to the engines, by constructing new crankshafts, pistons and conrods. Webster went even as far as to building his own 4 cylinder DOHC engine, but that was little raced.

The Lotus was raced quite successfully, but Webster saw scope for further improvement and constructed his own two litre sportscar, and although outwardly similar to the Lotus it was a totally new design, although it basically followed traditional sportscar practice. But the brake rotors were his own construction and the wheels were from American Racing Equipment and only 13 inch.
More special was the engine whereby Webster combined the crank of a 1500 cc Coventry Climax FPF engine with the block of a 2500 cc FPF, thus creating a 1996 cc engine, and with further improvements such as 58 mm sidedraught Weber carburetors, the engine produced a healthy 200 BHP at 9000 revs. A five speed Porsche RSK gearbox and dif were used to put on the power to the wheels.

The car ran for two seasons in the D-Modified class of the SCCA in the capable hands of racing legend Jerry Titus, initial with reasonable success in 1964, but less so in 1965 and the car was subsequently retired.

It underwent major restoration recently and was shown at the Monterey Historics at Laguna Seca in 2005, when the Great American Specials were celebrated.